GAME PREVIEW - GRAND RAPIDS GRIFFINS AT IOWA WILD 1.29.15

Jan 29, 2015

MEDIA KIT - HERE

Grand Rapids Griffins (21-16-3-1, 46 points) at Iowa Wild (15-26-1-1, 32 points)

Iowa begins a stretch of three straight at home, starting with Grand Rapids on Thursday and concluding with Hamilton on Friday and Saturday. Iowa and Grand Rapids meet for the third time this season. Grand Rapids has taken the first two games of the season series, including their last meeting on Saturday, a 4-3 victory over the Wild at Van Andel Arena. They will meet six times, including the next game on Jan. 29 in Des Moines. Grand Rapids and Iowa both played in the Midwest Division last season. Iowa was moved to the West over the summer. The Wild is 2-9-1-0 all-time against Grand Rapids, having been outscored 35-18 last year. The Griffins have a five-game winning streak over the Wild dating back to last year. Iowa is 0-4-1-0 all-time at home against Grand Rapids. The Griffins are 10-2-0-0 all-time, with a 5-0-0-0 mark at Wells Fargo Arena. 

Iowa is 8-12-0-0 at home this season, having been outscored 58-46 by the visiting teams. The Wild is coming off a 4-3 defeat at Grand Rapids on Saturday. Iowa has dropped three straight one-goal decisions. The Wild is 4-6-0-0 over the last 10 games, while the Griffins are 5-5-0-0. Grand Rapids is 10-9-1-0 on the road, outscoring the home teams 55-52. The Griffins are coming off a 4-3 win at home over Iowa on Saturday.

Upcoming Games:

Team                          Date    Time               Radio / TV

vs Grand Rapids         1/29     7:00 PM             KXNO / iHeartRadio

vs. Hamilton                 1/30     7:00 PM             KXNO / iHeartRadio

vs. Hamilton                  1/31     12:30 PM           KXNO / iHeartRadio

at Adirondack                2/3     6:30 PM CT        KXNO / iHeartRadio

at Hamilton                    2/6     6:30 PM CT        KXNO / iHeartRadio

Transactions:

1.22.15 – Add – D Justin Falk (assigned by Minnesota – NHL)

1.26.15 – Delete – D Stu Bickel (recalled by Minnesota – NHL)

1.27.15 – Add – G Darcy Kuemper (assigned by Minnesota – NHL – Conditioning)

1.28.15 – Add – F Raphael Bussieres (recalled from Alaska – ECHL)

Last Time Out

The Iowa Wild were defeated by the Grand Rapids Griffins 4-3 in front of 10,834 fans on Saturday at Van Andel Arena. With 4:20 remaining in regulation, Griffins forward Teemu Pulkkinen rifled a shot that deflected off traffic and into the Iowa net, breaking a 3-3 tie and propelling Grand Rapids to victory. Grand Rapids goalie Jarod Coreau made 14 saves, as his club claimed its fifth straight victory over the Wild dating back to last season. Griffins forward Mitch Callahan scored twice and Landon Ferraro also added a tally in the win. Wild center Tyler Graovac scored and added an assist as Iowa dropped its third straight decision. Iowa goalie John Curry had 26 saves in the road setback. Rookie forward Kurtis Gabriel and Zack Mitchell also scored in defeat.

Iowa Wild

Through 43 games this season, forwards Michael Keranen and Tyler Graovac are the team’s leading scorers. Graovac leads the team in goals with 15 tallies and is first with 31 points in 40 games. Keranen is second on the team in scoring with 28 points and is first with 22 assists in 42 games. Forward Jordan Schroeder is third on the club in points with 10 goals and 16 assists for 26 points in 32 games played. Right wing Marc Hagel is fourth among active skaters with a career-high 22 points in 34 games played. Rookie Zack Mitchell is fourth among active skaters with 12 goals and 21 points in 43 games played. Defenseman Jon Blum is the leader in points from the blueline. He has five goals and 18 points in 33 games played. Veteran center Brett Sutter is also among the team leaders with 16 points in 39 games played.

Goalies Johan Gustafsson, John Curry and Josh Harding (injured) man the Iowa Wild crease. Harding is 0-1-1 with a 3.37 GAA and a .920 SV%. John Curry is 8-9-0 with a 2.70 GAA and a 0.919 SV%. Johan Gustafsson is 7-16-1 with a 3.39 GAA and a .896 SV %.

Iowa’s power play is ranked 18th at 15.7%, while the penalty kill sits 30th at 78.3%.

Notables –

·       Defenseman Danny Syvret has played in 599 AHL games.

·       Since Dec. 1, goalie John Curry is 7-4-0 with a 2.13 G.A.A. with a .935 SV %.

·      Griffins forward Teemu Pulkkinen has a goal in three straight road games.

Grand Rapids Griffins

In the first 41 games of this season, second-year Griffin Teemu Pulkkinen leads his team in scoring with 21 goals and 22 assists for 43 points. He is third in the AHL for points and second in the league lead in goals. He is also among the league leaders for shots on goal at 138. Center Andy Miele is second on the team in points with 35 points in 36 games played. He is second on the team with 22 assists. Left wing Mitch Callahan is third on the club with 32 points in 41 games played. He is second in goals (15) and third on the club with 17 assists. Veteran Kevin Porter (19 points) and Landon Ferraro (23 points – 17 goals) are also among the team leaders in points. Defenseman Nathan Paetsch leads all Grand Rapids blueliners with 16 points in 40 games played.

Playing in 21 games this season for Grand Rapids, goalie Tom McCollum (10-8-3) is posting a 2.33 GAA and a .911 SV%. Goalie Petr Mrazek (3-2-0) is posting a 3.25 GAA and .876 SV% six games played for the Griffins this year. Rookie Jared Coreau is 7-6-1 with a 2.37 GAA and a .919 SV%.

Grand Rapid’s power play is ranked 12th at 17.3%, while the penalty kill sits 16th at 82.8%.

 

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